who ARE those Chicks??

WHO ARE THOSE STEEL CHICKS?

OUR FOUNDER, BILL SMILEY
IN HIS OWN WORDS

I was born and grew up in Southern California. Republican parents sent me to Military School to learn respect and discipline. I was their contribution to the Hippie Movement.
At age 18 I was drafted into the Army. Gomer Pyle was more of a soldier than I. After discharge, I attended the University of California at Berkeley on the G.I. Bill. During summer break 1963, my cousin, George Hamill, recently discharged from the U.S. Navy Steel Band, introduced me to the world of Pan. Other Navy Pan men, Hugo Bailey, Hyland Miller, and Jim O’Sullivan, along with a 17-year-old, Pedro Druz, from Puerto Rico formed the Steel Band, Hi Life Steel Band. We started playing gigs around L.A.; Disney Land; The Troubador; Jungle Land, an animal theme park; clubs; and private parties.
We were busy. Fall and winter of 1963-64 found the band, renamed The Destitutes, playing Sun Valley Lodge in Ketchum, Idaho. We were the house band at the ski lodge, performing 6 nights a week. At the end of the ski season I returned to Berkeley to resume my studies.
The mid-1960s arrived in a rainbow explosion, and my world changed forever. I became a zen clown, corrupted by Ken Kesey, Neal Cassidy, Alan Ginsberg, and Wavy Gravy. I had way too much fun for the next 15 years.
Somehow I managed to become a cultural anthropologist. I worked at The University of Arizona where I met my sweetheart and my wife, Linda Swisher. We both retired in the late 1990’s to a quiet little area in New Mexico.
Fast forward to the spring of 2004. My old pans were retrieved from storage, and I decided to start a community steel band in our town of Magdalena. A search on the internet revealed a quantum leap in pan technology that was unforeseen in the 1960s. Grooveless pans? What was that??
I began to confer with the kind folks at Panyard. Ron opened my eyes to the new steel band instruments. I felt like a Rip Van Winkle Pan man, waking up with a rusty set of pans, hearing the sweet sound of pans of a new generation. Wow!! An old love was rekindled. A new steel band, is now playing in New Mexico: “The Magdalena Steel Chicks”, an all female band.
What will the future bring? Pan will continue to evolve far beyond the dreams of this Old Pan Man.
To all you young panists - the future is unimaginable. Keep on evolving. What a magnificent obsession.

THE STEEL CHICKS IN THEIR OWN WORDS
My name is Hayley Madigan. I’m 12 years old. I was born in the county of Socorro NM. Now I live in Magdalena.
My life as a musician started with my grandma when she wanted me to play the recorder. (That didn't last long!)
But one day my mom came home with this crazy idea. It was about the steel drums. I thought that we were going to watch some people beat on big tin cans.
When I got there I realized I was wrong. A really nice man named Bill Smiley showed me how to play some steel drums.
My mom made me make a commitment to stay in the band. No matter how much I tried, my mom would not let me stop going to practice. Then I realized that I had a great gift and I should use it. (It only took about 1,000 people to tell me that before I figured it out).
I am in the band now and we are doing great. (I even play the piano too.) I am a very lucky girl to have so much stuff like this in my life. I am also very lucky that the sweet Steel Dude, Bill Smiley taught me all these things!!!
If you are reading this Bill, I want to give you a big THANKS!!!

My name is Valerie Madigan, Hayley is my daughter. I remember the first day I heard about steel drums. I didn't know what they were.
I was at work on a Saturday afternoon, Allison and her husband David were in the store. Allison and I were chit chatting about music and my daughter. Allison told me about a steel drum band for kids. (It has turned into a band for chicks of all ages.) Rest assured I was excited. The next practice was Sunday. I went home and told Hayley, told her she was going to at least try it.
The next day we showed up and met Bill, (The Steel Dude). He showed her what to do. She was a natural. I really think he taught her something valuable and was brought into our lives for a reason.

My name is Alexis Mansell I am 10 years old. I play in The Magdalena Steel Chicks. I’m the smallest one in the band. Bill Smiley is the founder of the band. My mom, Linda Mansell, is the leader of the band. I was not in the band at first but then my mom signed me up. I sing “Zombie Jamboree” and help my mom sing other songs. I’m glad I signed up for THE MAGDALENA STEEL CHICKS!!!

Hi, I'm Linda Mansell (AKA Mama Switchblade). I was given this name by Jane Leonard (AKA Purple Haze). I was born in Northern New Mexico and started playing guitar when I was 13 years old. I grew up became a Wild land fire person and then a Police Officer (hoota). I have lived in Magdalena for twenty years and now own Mansell’s Coffee Shop. This is what led me to all the wonderful people I’ve met here, like Bill and Linda Smiley and the members of the band. Bill and Linda are my best of friends and Bill, my mentor, taught me how to play the drums. I love you Bill, you’re my best friend forever. Beatles Rock and so do you.

MORE ABOUT THE STEEL CHICKS
Jane Leonard (AKA Purple Haze, The Calamitous One) is conceptually purple, and has no previous musical experience. She was born in Motown (therefore, had to learn to play on the beat) and moved to Magdalena in 2004. She has two passions; steel drumming and Chinese martial arts. She usually plays the bass drums and is elated and joyful to be included in The Magdalena Steel Chicks. Jane SWAYS!

Allison Edwards, making her way through the forest, came upon a drum, banged it, liked it, stole it and henceforward called herself a "steal drum chick". One day, Pan himself came to her and said, "I'm starting a Pan band." She said, "What?" He said, "Steel drum, chick!" Hearing her name called, of course the rest is history! Naturally, since Pan himself recruited her, she gets to play flutes, too...

Hey guys, (and of course, most especially chicks)!
My name is Marin Harris. I’m sixteen and currently a junior at Magdalena High School. A home grown original with deep roots, I’ve spent my entire life in Magdalena and my parents and grand-parents grew up here too.
I first started hearing rumors about the existence of the Steel Chicks in August of ’05. “...yeah, they’re really good...they played at Hot August Nights in Socorro...Steel Drums...cool sound...” Steel Drums!!! I’d actually heard about those before (and was wondering how on earth a steel drum band had ended up in Magdalena.) I was curious so my mom took me to the coffee shop to see the Chicks play. I was instantly hooked. I really liked the thought of being in a band and it was awesome that this one had girls my age. The Chicks’ music rocked so I joined up...
Like Bill said steel pans are “a magnificent obsession...” and I’m just that, totally OBSESSED!